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EDUCATION S E R V I C E S
Nit.a Hanna
A dissertation submitted in part fulfilment of the degree of Master of Arts in Education at Massey University, Palmerston North.
April, 1993
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A B S T R A C T
The entry of New Zealand state education into the export market provided an unique opportunity for the researcher to combine interests in education, exporting, marketing and finance. The challenge was to investigate an entirely new export industry which was growing at a very rapid rate.
In the absence of other studies relating to the New Zealand situation, information was
obtained from relevant documents, interviews with people associated with aspects of the industry and questionnaires to students in selected institutions and to a spokesperson for overseas students within each of the institutions.
The intended benefits and possible pitfalls perceived by people associated with forming the legislation were identified.· In addition to the expected financial gains a number of non- financial benefits based on past experience with government assisted students were revealed.
They related to trade and internationalisation. Some were of a very long-term nature.
Anticipated problems were largely associated with traditional attitudes about the role of state education in New Zealand.
The study revealed:
There were wide differences of opinion on the role of legislation and on the policies which should be adopted.
Students, unlike respondents from New Zealand institutions, did not consider the high standard of New Zealand education qualifications their main reason for choosing New Zealand as an educational destination.
Although students tended to compare aspects of New Zealand with those of their home country, there was overall agreement about liking the cultural experience, the way of life, the people, and the New Zealand countrySide.
Students adapted to most differences in teaching institutions between New Zealand and their home country within one year, except mastery of the English language. Spokespeople for institution did not indicate language was such a persistent problem.
Aspects of New Zealand students would most like to change included costs (especially rising costs) and the attitudes of some New Zealanders to foreigners. Respondents from institutions believed there was a very large market for New Zealand education, but the rate of growth was dependent on the acceptability of numbers of overseas students by New Zealanders.
There was very little difference between fee-paying and government funded students' responses.
Lack of funding has restricted some generic activities including a co-ordinated approach to catering for student's needs once they are in New Zealand.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank Professor Ivan Snook (Education Department, Massey University) for allowing this study to be undertaken as part requirement for the degree of Master of Arts in Education.
Very sincere thanks to Associa1e Professor Norman Marr (Marketing Department, Massey University) for adopting an academic orphan, and for his patient and encouraging assistance throughout the year. His cardul reading of the first draft of this thesis and helpful suggestions are acknowledged with gratitude.
Many people who have given their time and advice to assist with this research. Most, but not all, are listed in Appendix A. The willingness of busy people to offer information and guidance has been extremely enc°'raging. In particular I would like to thank Stuart Rose and the staff at NZEIL for allowing me to have access to information held at NZEIL and to Dr. George Preddy, Maureen Parratt and the staff at the Ministry of Education who patiently answered my endless requests for information.
The time taken by the many anooymous people who answered questionnaires must be acknowledged. Without their help this study would not have been possible.
Thanks also to the principals of Coombe, Smith & Co. for their extremely generous allowance of the use of office facilities. and staff time. Special thanks to Carol Mayo and Kathryn Gust for all the typing and meeting deadlines and to Mark Chamberlain for his helpful advice.
N.M.H.
CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION
1.0 Introduction to Chapter One . . . • 1
1.1 Introduction to this Study . . . • . . . 1
1.2 Definition of the Area of Study . . . 6
1. 3 Thesis Objectives . . . . 7
1. 4 Thesis Development . . . • . . . 7
2 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY 2 •
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Introduction to Chapter Two • . . . • . . . 92.1 Factors Effecting the Overseas Student Decision .••. 9 2.2 Structural Changes Following the Full Fee-paying Student Decision . . . • . . . 14
2 . 3 Summary . . . 3 6 3 METHODOLOGY 3.0 Introduction to Chapter Three . . . 38
3.1 Other Publications Covering the New Zealand Situation . . . 38
3. 2 Interviews . . . . 3 8 3.3 Questionnaires . . • . . . 39
3. 4 Relevant Documents . . . 41
3.5 NZEIL . . . 41
3 . 6 summary . . . . • . . . • . . . • . . . 41
4 POLICY DEVELOPMENT 4.0 Introduction to Chapter Four . . . 42
4.1 Sources of Information on Policy . . . 42
4.2 Areas of General Agreement About Benefits to New Zealand . . . 43
4.3 Areas in Which There was General" Agreement Disadvantages to New Zealand could Occur . . . 46
4.4 Controversial Issues of Policy Formation and Implemetation . . . . 50
4 . 5 Summary . . . . . . . . 61
5 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 5.0 Introduction to Chapter Five . . . 63
5.1 Background to Current Procedures and Practices . . . 63
5. 2 New Zealand as a Destination . . . 68
5.3 Student Demographics . . . 76
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5.4 Application Procedures . . . 80 5.5 English Ability . . . 81 5.6 New Experiences in the New Ze~land Teaching and
Learning Situation . . . • . . . 88 5.7 Problems at the Teaching Level . . . 93 5.8 Other Institutional Assistance to Overseas Students.94 5.9 Difficulties Faced by Overseas Students . . . 95 5.10 Students' Perceptions of New Zealand . . . • . . 98 5.11 Non-Financial Benefits to the Teaching
Institution . . . . . 116 5 . 12 Financial Advantages . . . 12 5 5.13 Distance Education . . . 128 5.14 Maintaining Standards . . . 130 5.15 The Future: Prospects and Problems . . . 130
5 . 16 summary . • . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 4
6 CONCLUSION
6.0 Introduction to Chapter Six . . . 136 6.1 The Legislation: It's Effects and Intended
Benefits . . . 136 6.2 New Zealand Education: The Overseas student's
Experience . . . 137 6.3 The Industry and It's Future . . . 140 6.4 Areas for Further Reaserch . . . 141
REFERENCES . • • • . • • . • . • • . • · • • . • . . • . . . • . . . • . . • . • . . . • • . • . . . . • . . • 14 3
INDEX TO APPENDICES . . . 14 7 Appendix A . . . : . . . 148 Appendix B . . . . 151
Appendix
c . ...
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Appendix D . . . . 16 4 Appendix E . . . 173 Appendix F . . . 178 Appendix G . . . 19 8 Appendix · H . . . . ... . . . 198
L I S T OF TABLES
2.1 Numbers of Transitional or 'Grandparented' Students •.. 15
2.2 Total Numbers of Overseas Students in New Zealand Universities . .... . . 1 7 2.3 Numbers of Overseas Students Enrolling as First Year Students in New Zealand Universities •••..•.•• 18
2.4 Percentage of Fourth Year University students who Proceeded to a Fifth Year of Study .••...•... • 19
2.5 Sources of Funding for University Students ..•..•..•... 20
2.6 Comparison of MERT Full Scholarships and MERT Fees Scholarships Awarded to University Students ...••.• 21
2.7 Total Number of Overseas Students Enrolled in SecondarySchoo ls . . . 2 3 2.8 Sources of Funding for Secondary Students .••... 24
2.9 Comparison of MERT Full Scholarships and MERT Fees Scholarships Awarded to Secondary School Pupils .•. 25 2.10 Numbers of Oversea$ Students in New Zealand Secondary Schools By Form Level in 1992 ...•..• 26
2.11 Numbers of Overseas Students Enrolled in Polytechnics.27 3.1 Distribution and Return of Questionnaires to Students.40 4.1 Summary of areas of General Agreement on Policy ...•... 49
4.2 Summary of Controversial Issues ...•..• 61
5 .1 Initial Sources of :Information on New Zealand Education . . . . .. 6 9 5.2 Initial sources of information for Malaysian students.71 5. 3 Initial Sources of .information for Pacific Island Students . . . - . . . : . . . 71
5.4 Reasons for Choosing New Zealand ...•..••...•... 73
5.5 Overseas Students in the Survey Attending University .. 77
5.6 Overseas Students in the Survey Attending Polytechnics . . . . 77
5.7 Overseas Students in the Survey Attending Secondary School ... .•.•..•...•...• 77
5.8 Subjects Chosen by overseas students ...•••... 78
5.9 Method of Application to study in New Zealand ...• 80
5 .10 Visa Problems .. .. . ... . . . 81
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5.11 Problems Associated with Enrolment and
InstitutionsGenerally . . . . .. . . 83
5.12 English Ability a Handicap •....•...•...••....•... 85 5.13 Assistance with English Offered by Institutions
...•.86 5.14 Difficulty in
Englishby Year of Attendance
atCurrent Insti tu ti on .•.•...•.•..•...•....•.•.... 8
75.15 Assistance Institutions Could Offer ...••...•.•.•..•. 94
¥ _ , , •• •
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.,:; ~L I S T C>F FIGURES
1.1 Interaction Between Major Groups in the Education
Export Industcy . . . . 51
5.1 Choice of New Zealand: Reasons . . . • . . . 75
5.2 Living Arrangements of First Year Students . . . 79
5.3 Teaching and Learnimg Differences . . . • . . . 92
5.4 Initial Difficulties Faced by overseas Students . . • . . . 96
5.5 Difficulties Overseas Students Face Continuously .••.• 97 5.6 Attributes of the Overall New Zealand Educational Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 9 9 5.7 Aspects of Life in. New Zealand Liked Most by Students . . . 1
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5. 8 New Zealand Education: students from Malaysia . . . 1015.9 New Zealand Education: Students from the Pacific Islands . . . 102
5. 1 o New Zealand Educatiion: students from Japan . . . • . . 1o3 5.11 New Zealand Education: students from Thailand . . . • . . 104
~ 5 .12 New Zealand Educati-on: Students from Hong Kong . . . . • . . 105
5 .13 New Zealand Education: students from Singapore . . . 106
5. 14 New Zealand Education: Students from Taiwan . . . 107
5 .15 New Zealand Education: students from USA . . . 108
5 .16 New Zealand Education: Students from Indonesia . . . . • . . 109
5 .17 Advocated Changes: Overseas students . . . 113
5 .18 Non-Financial Benefits to the Institution . . . 117
5 .19 Foreign Exchange Earnings from Overseas Students . . . 126 5. 20 Numbers of Overseas Fee-paying Students in Australia .126
